Tag Archives: Elizabeth May

To paraphrase a recent Washington Post article, during his nine years in power Stephen Harper avoided topics he did not wish to talk about whenever possible. Burnaby Now reported that the former Conservative Prime Minister projected a friendly, approachable image at his rallies, “except for that part where we’re not allowed to get anywhere near him or ask questions. I can’t help but think how every little detail is deliberate. Nothing is left to chance.” The National Post adds, “To this day, Liberal henchpersons are happy to excoriate Harper for having tried to ‘game the system’ and avoid scrutiny” – but in this election Trudeau is clearly out-Harpering Harper.

At best, advance polling and projections depict the situation at a given point in time. The September 8, 2019, projections from 338Canada show the Green party continuing to maintain a healthy lead in four Vancouver Island ridings. However, in the midst of an intense three way race for second place, the data shows support for the Conservatives rising.

In the first of my interviews with the candidates, I visited the home of Mark de Bruijn. Cortes Islanders may remember him as a former principal of our elementary school; He has also worked as a science teacher, college lecturer and former biologist for Canada’s Department of Fisheries. Now Mark de Bruijn is the Green Party of Canada’s candidate for Powell River-North Island.

P.J. Fournier is a political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, as well a contubutor to Maclean’s and L’actualité magazines. After a “certain degree of success” predicting the outcomes of the 2018 provincial elections in Ontario and Quebec, he turned his attention to the national scene. On his website, 338Canada, Fournier gives weekly projections for each of Canada’s 338 ridings. His most recent projection shows the Greens leading in four Vancouver Island ridings, and closely trailing in the other three. The Greens lead on Vancouver Island.